The Syrian “proxy” conflict between the US and Russia will escalate beyond the Middle East, Turkish Deputy Prime Minister, Numan Kurtulmus believes.

The Syrian conflict, which has become a “proxy war” between the two Cold War superpowers, could escalate beyond the Middle East, the Anadolu news agency reported, citing Turkish Deputy Prime Minister, Numan Kurtulmus.

“If this proxy war continues, after this, let me be clear, America and Russia will come to a point of war,” Kurtulmus said and added that the world is “on the brink of the beginning of a large regional or global war.”

According to the Deputy Prime Minister, the Syrian Bashar al-Assad’s government is just a “pawn” in the conflict. The politician called on al-Assad to seek peace because he is not able to overcome the alliance of forces that opposes his government. He also noted that there is no a place for al-Assad in any future political system of the country, as the opposition will “not negotiate with a bloody dictatorship.”

Turkey has been one of the main supporters of the Bashar al-Assad’s resignation since the start of the conflict in 2011. However, a variant of al-Assad’s unilateral removal has been refused to be considered by the Russian side, which has intervened in the conflict at the request of Damascus, unless Syrian people decide so.

On Wednesday night, during an interview with French television, Russian President Vladimir Putin once again said that the Syrian president is ready to develop a new, more democratic constitution, as well as to overhaul the political system of the country, but only if he is allowed to take part in a future election.

“If the people do not vote for President Assad, there will be a democratic change of power, but without the help of armed intervention from outside and under strict international control, under UN supervision. I do not understand who could find this proposal unacceptable. It is a democratic solution to the question of power in the country,” Putin said.

Meanwhile, the West loudly calls for the punishment of Russia and Syria for alleged war crimes in the Syrian city of Aleppo in the north of Syria, where the battle between government and rebel forces is currently ongoing.